Play on Words

full length · drama

John the Baptist: A Play

by Hermann Sudermann · translated by Beatrice Marshall

39 roles (0M / 0F / 39 any) · approx 113–156 minutes · 9 acts

Royalty-free Public domain — free to read, perform, and adapt. No licence needed.

Characters

John lead 208 speeches
Herod supporting 139 speeches
Salome supporting 117 speeches
Herodias supporting 100 speeches
Josaphat supporting 60 speeches
Miriam minor 30 speeches
Gaoler minor 27 speeches
Amasai minor 23 speeches
Manassa minor 22 speeches
Eliakim minor 21 speeches
Vitellius minor 20 speeches
Matthias minor 19 speeches
Gabalos minor 18 speeches
First Galilean minor 18 speeches
Jael minor 17 speeches
Amarja minor 16 speeches
Pasur minor 15 speeches
The People minor 12 speeches
Abi minor 11 speeches
Mesulemeth minor 11 speeches
Second Soldier minor 10 speeches
Maecha minor 10 speeches
Hachmoni minor 8 speeches
Merokles minor 8 speeches
Second Galilean minor 8 speeches
First Soldier minor 6 speeches
Third Soldier minor 6 speeches
First Priest minor 6 speeches
Jabad minor 6 speeches
The Boy minor 6 speeches
First Woman minor 5 speeches
Marcellus minor 5 speeches
Hadidja minor 4 speeches
The Citizen minor 4 speeches
Simon The Galilean minor 4 speeches
Call minor 4 speeches
Citizen minor 3 speeches
Jorab minor 3 speeches
Another minor 2 speeches

Read the play

_The same. Herod, Herodias, with train from right._

John. [_John has mounted the steps and stands in the middle of the threshold._]

Herod. [_Pale, but smiling._] Hearest thou what they cry?

Herodias. Have him seized, else it means death to you and to me.

The People. [_Are silent and tense in expectation. Most of them have picked up stones._]

Josaphat. [_Who stands to the left of John on a lower step, hands him a stone, and says in a low voice._] Take this stone! [_More urgently._] Take this stone!

John. [_Takes the stone._]

Herod. Thou on the steps. Knowest thou me not?

Josaphat. [_Whispers._] Hurl the stone!

John. [_Firmly._] In the name of Him [_He is about to throw the stone, then pauses, half-questioning, half-swooning._] ... Who ... commands me ... to love thee----[_A low moaning runs through the people._]

TWO SERVANTS

[_Have approached John. They seize him and push him down from the Temple steps._]

HEROD AND HERODIAS

[_Walk up._]

The People. Woe to us! He too hath forsaken us. Woe, woe!

Josaphat. [_To John, who is pinioned by the servants._] Master, what hast thou done to us?

The People. Woe! Woe!

[_The curtain falls._]

Monologues from this play